Where did all the other money go?

Sunday

Dec 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Editor, the Record:

Our liberal, progressive leaders want to save the American people again by doubling the federal gas tax. The stated reason for this is to provide money to fix the roads and bridges across the country. The question, of course, they will not answer is where has all the money gone that is already being brought in for this purpose?

As the federal government becomes more bloated every day, it continues its insatiable desire for more money. All programs are put on automatic yearly increases that are nearly unstoppable. When anyone talks about cutting back even the increases, all the special-interest groups scream you are taking the food out of their children's mouth.

Government at all levels need to be put on a funding diet, but especially the federal government. When an admiral says that he cannot deploy a battle group because the annual defense budget increase is being cut, we have reached the cliff's edge. We hear Congress and president talk about new departments and agencies, but nothing about cutting the ones that are failing or that are obsolete. Here are a few ideas how about the IRS: Stop sending tax refunds to dead people and illegal aliens; have the Justice Department actually prosecute the individuals, companies and groups defrauding billions of taxpayer dollars every year through Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security; and the State Department close its check book, giving billions to third-world dictators when there are homeless hungry children in the USA.

We the voter and taxpayers of this country need to remember that the senators, congressmen and president work for us, and it's our money they are spending like water. The gas-tax increase, like so many others, may sound good at first glance, until you ask yourself, where did all the other money go?